The power of Power Hour

Students eat lunch together in an open courtyard during "Power Hour" at West Port High School in Ocala on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. The school instituted "Power Hour" last year to reduce class failure rates. Students are given one hour to use cell phones, computers and other items for personal time. Officials say class failure rates of dropped tremendously with the free time that was given to them.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 5:57 p.m.

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Unlike most class changes, this bell signaled the beginning of what is called "Power Hour" — 60 minutes in the middle of the school day that students can spend more or less as they wish.

Most use 20 minutes or so to grab a quick lunch. The use of the rest of the time varies from student to student.

Some visit teachers to get tutoring or make up work. Some attend clubs and sports meetings. And for those who are caught up on their class assignments, or just need a break, the time is used visiting with friends.

Principal Jayne Ellspermann established Power Hour two years ago as a way for students to decompress, release some energy and/or have time to get help with classes.

Ellspermann said she spent 18 months before launch talking with staff, mainly teachers, to make sure everyone was onboard. At first, many people thought she had lost her mind by cutting 2,300 students loose on campus at the same time.

But once Power Hour was established, everyone discovered how special the program could be. One key stat: The school's class failure rate has plummeted from 18 percent before Power Hour began in the 2011-12 school year to 3.4 percent since.

Power Hour has turned the campus into a more rigorous academic community.

"They are truly empowered with the power to be academically successful," Ellspermann noted.

Ben Whitehouse, assistant principal of curriculum, walked across the bustling campus during Power Hour, and the place had the feel of a college campus.

Whitehouse said teachers schedule 30 minutes as office time. Students have time every day to stop by to get tutoring or work on projects.

Freshman Thomas Kibble used his extra minutes to make up science assignments missed because of an excused absence, while freshman Kelly Brown worked on her science research paper about planets.

"I really like it," Kelly said as she sat at a computer across from a friend. She said she doesn't get as stressed when she gets behind on a subject or misses an assignment.

Whitehouse said a majority of the West Port students ride the bus; they arrive just in time for classes and leave within five minutes of dismissal. They have no time at school to make up assignments, see friends or join a club.

The Power Hour has helped increase participation in clubs. That's because there is no longer a need for after-school meetings, which once required working parents to make arrangements for someone to pick up their children on meeting days.

In one building, Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps cadets and officers scrambled during Power Hour to complete the final touches of a audio-visual presentation they were planning for their Tuesday night awards ceremony.

Senior Adrianne Game, a JRTOC battalion commander, said Power Hour has made a difference for most every student on campus, especially those who want to be involved in clubs and organizations. Game experienced her first two years of high school without Power Hour and the last two years with it.

"It also gives our color guard time to practice," she said.

Senior Jacob Martin, a JROTC captain of the Alpha Company, said the hour every day is valuable. Martin is an officer in JROTC, takes dual-enrollment classes and works a job after school. Without Power Hour, he said he would be up much later at night doing homework and completing projects. Plus, he noted, students do not have an excuse for missing club meetings.

Laurie Reeder, West Port's Marion County Center for the Arts coordinator and English III teacher, said Power Hour allows teachers to help struggling students individually.

"It has just been marvelous," Reeder said.

Mary Fillion, who teaches college-level U.S. history classes, said the time gives students a chance to stroll the campus, and she often catches them looking at famous artwork hung in the hallway in front of classrooms.

"It gives them (students) more of a chance to feel like an adult and be more responsible," said Lindsey Barber, an advanced placement U.S. history teacher. And they have been more responsible, she noted.

Whitehouse noted the Power Hour does relieve stress. Students don't feel as cooped up or bored.

"They are not as squirrelly because they can get some of their energy out," Whithouse said.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>Scattered across West Port High School's sprawling campus, 2,300 students scrambled when the bell rang shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday.</p><p>Unlike most class changes, this bell signaled the beginning of what is called "Power Hour" — 60 minutes in the middle of the school day that students can spend more or less as they wish.</p><p>Most use 20 minutes or so to grab a quick lunch. The use of the rest of the time varies from student to student.</p><p>Some visit teachers to get tutoring or make up work. Some attend clubs and sports meetings. And for those who are caught up on their class assignments, or just need a break, the time is used visiting with friends.</p><p>Principal Jayne Ellspermann established Power Hour two years ago as a way for students to decompress, release some energy and/or have time to get help with classes.</p><p>Ellspermann said she spent 18 months before launch talking with staff, mainly teachers, to make sure everyone was onboard. At first, many people thought she had lost her mind by cutting 2,300 students loose on campus at the same time.</p><p>But once Power Hour was established, everyone discovered how special the program could be. One key stat: The school's class failure rate has plummeted from 18 percent before Power Hour began in the 2011-12 school year to 3.4 percent since.</p><p>Power Hour has turned the campus into a more rigorous academic community.</p><p>"They are truly empowered with the power to be academically successful," Ellspermann noted.</p><p>Ben Whitehouse, assistant principal of curriculum, walked across the bustling campus during Power Hour, and the place had the feel of a college campus.</p><p>Whitehouse said teachers schedule 30 minutes as office time. Students have time every day to stop by to get tutoring or work on projects.</p><p>Freshman Thomas Kibble used his extra minutes to make up science assignments missed because of an excused absence, while freshman Kelly Brown worked on her science research paper about planets.</p><p>"I really like it," Kelly said as she sat at a computer across from a friend. She said she doesn't get as stressed when she gets behind on a subject or misses an assignment.</p><p>Whitehouse said a majority of the West Port students ride the bus; they arrive just in time for classes and leave within five minutes of dismissal. They have no time at school to make up assignments, see friends or join a club.</p><p>The Power Hour has helped increase participation in clubs. That's because there is no longer a need for after-school meetings, which once required working parents to make arrangements for someone to pick up their children on meeting days.</p><p>In one building, Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps cadets and officers scrambled during Power Hour to complete the final touches of a audio-visual presentation they were planning for their Tuesday night awards ceremony.</p><p>Senior Adrianne Game, a JRTOC battalion commander, said Power Hour has made a difference for most every student on campus, especially those who want to be involved in clubs and organizations. Game experienced her first two years of high school without Power Hour and the last two years with it.</p><p>"It also gives our color guard time to practice," she said.</p><p>Senior Jacob Martin, a JROTC captain of the Alpha Company, said the hour every day is valuable. Martin is an officer in JROTC, takes dual-enrollment classes and works a job after school. Without Power Hour, he said he would be up much later at night doing homework and completing projects. Plus, he noted, students do not have an excuse for missing club meetings.</p><p>Laurie Reeder, West Port's Marion County Center for the Arts coordinator and English III teacher, said Power Hour allows teachers to help struggling students individually.</p><p>"It has just been marvelous," Reeder said.</p><p>Mary Fillion, who teaches college-level U.S. history classes, said the time gives students a chance to stroll the campus, and she often catches them looking at famous artwork hung in the hallway in front of classrooms.</p><p>"It gives them (students) more of a chance to feel like an adult and be more responsible," said Lindsey Barber, an advanced placement U.S. history teacher. And they have been more responsible, she noted.</p><p>Whitehouse noted the Power Hour does relieve stress. Students don't feel as cooped up or bored.</p><p>"They are not as squirrelly because they can get some of their energy out," Whithouse said.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>